For your viewing pleasure, here are two video that show case how I operate my 24" x 80" Hollow Core Door layout that I call the Long Valley Branch. Even though the layout is a simple loop, I operate the line as if it was a point to point railroad, with the train running from the Midland Interchange Yard to the village of Long Valley. A couple of things to point out up front: I'm in no way shape or form an videographer, I'm lucky I know how to turn the camera on I'm using a simple pocket sized point and shoot digital camera to create these videos. So you may find the image quality and sometime the focus are not the best, but hopefully the videos will give everyone some ideas or suggestions on how to operate a small layout. Here is a track schematic of the layout. Along with the track schematic I also use an employee timetable I created in Microsoft Word and car cards created in the Albion Software ShipIt Car Cards. And now, onto the videos:
I have seen many a nice layout operated at an Indy 500 pace. What really stands out for me is your track speed. Much closer to realism, at this slower pace.
In this final episode we watch the Long Valley Branch crew work the Vulcan Steel Fabricators sidings. They will then reassemble their train for the trip back to the Midland Interchange yard. Before departing Long Valley, the crew will stop at the Long Valley Interlocking tower to pickup their train orders for the return trip.
I always enjoy seeing photos of your layout and I greatly enjoyed these videos too. Your Long Valley Branch is proof that a fine railroad can be built in limited space and thoroughly enjoyed.
Rich, thanks for taking and posting these videos. I'm just getting back into the hobby and starting a HCD layout. I first learned of your layout on a JJs Trains video about a year ago. I like that is has simple and non congested feel yet has a convincing purpose for the railroad. It is a fine example of the merits of N scale on a HCD and helped persuade me to build my own layout on a HCD. I'm delighted to see your slow speed switching maneuvers and aim to do the same on my layout. Please post more videos as time permits.
A quick update on the Long Valley Branch: I've finally added Union Switch & Signal "EL" type cab signal relay boxes to my two Penn Central GP38-2's. These are neat little details from CMR products. Sadly I just discovered I'm all out of Conrail Blue, so my two GP40-2's will have to wait until I get more Conrail blue
Because of current family events, there has been very progress on "The Long Valley Branch". The only thing new is the backdrop has now been permanently secured to the layout. Here's an over all photo of the layout with the new backdrop.
Rich I really like your layout. It is one of the layouts that inspired me to revisit the Carolina Central. How did you attach the back drop. Thanks, John
John, Thank you for the compliments on the Long Valley Branch. The Carolina Central was the inspiration for my layout. The backdrop believe it or not is "River Valley" from PECO. I cut off the river portion of the back drop, then using 3M Super 77 Spray adhesive attached the backdrop to 1/4" Lauan plywood. The Lauan plywood is then screwed to the hollow core door. Before attaching the backdrop I also cut three pieces of the Lauan plywood into 3" wide strips to act as strengtheners. These strips were then glued and nailed using track nails to the backdrop. The end of the nails were cut off with a Dremel tool. The bottom of the strengthener was then screwed to the hollow core door. When I attached the PECO backdrop, I worked backwards from sheet 3 to sheet 1. One word of caution, test fit everything before applying the adhesive because once the paper comes into contact with the spray adhesive, you have very little time to make adjustments. I used a car window squeegee to work out the bubbles. I think the next time I use a paper backdrop, I might try wallpaper paste instead of using the 3M product. I've used the 3M product in the past on Card stock with very good results, but with the paper it grabbed pretty quick, not leaving much time to make minor adjustments. I hope I answered your question and yes some times I too tend to ramble
You know the old saying, variety is the spice of life and I've done a little back dating on the Long Valley Branch. The date is now June 1964 and the branch is under the control of the Pittsburgh & West Virginia Railway. In four months the P&WV will become the property of the Norfolk & Western Railway, but for now life is good, the Fairbanks Morse locomotives are still on the property and it's business as usual on the "High & Dry"
I've been in a Midwestern Penn Central era kind of mood the past few days, so I figured it was time once again to update the Long Valley Branch. Welcome to South Eastern Michigan, the branch is now being operated by the Ann Arbor Railroad who at the current time is also a subsidiary of the DT&I.
Over the past week I've been playing around with different era's and prototypes on the Long Valley Branch and today's Conrail's turn.
